While skiing down Mount Yōtei’s steep slopes appeals to many,
some would much rather appreciate the view from down below. Get
back to nature by soaking in the prefecture’s hot springs at
Shikotsu-Toya National Park, or come in February
for the Sapporo Snow Festival, during which the region is covered
in towering snow and ice sculptures. Where to
stay: Lying amid Hokkaido’s Hanazono forests and
snow-covered meadows, Zaborin offers a secluded villa
retreat. Zaborin’s 15 villas place focus on the outside, with
floor-to-ceiling windows and minimally decorated interiors. While
away the hours soaking in one of two onsen baths, filled with
mineral-rich volcanic water.

One of Europe’s glitziest resorts, Kitzbühel also offers much to
do for non-skiers. Located just east of Innsbruck, this is the kind
of place where days are best spent wandering through the car-free
streets, popping into designer dens hidden down cobbled alleys and
cosy cafés for a cup of steaming hot chocolate. Where to
stay: If a detox is what you’re after, stay at
wellness-centric hotel Q! Resort Kitzbühel, where
meditation sessions, vegan juice cleanses and natural bathing ponds
soothe stress and promote wellness. For glamour worthy of the
glitzy Alpine location, book a room at Hotel Schloss Lebenberg – a
medieval hillside castle with views over the village.

People mainly go
skiing for the food, right? Head to Zermatt to eat to your
heart’s content, without the pesky added task of exercising either
side of the meal. Feast on cheese fondue with freshly baked
sourdough and charcuterie boards, and finish with endless amounts
of Swiss chocolate. Where to stay: Nestled in the
slopes above Zermatt, native Alpine materials such as timber and
stone ensure this cosy hideaway slots naturally into the
surrounding environment. Spend lazy mornings at Cervo Mountain Boutique Resort
sipping on coffee on your balcony with views of the Matterhorn in
the distance.

Charming towns and icy rivers fill in the gaps between the
jagged peaks of Italy’s Dolomites. Spend days strolling through
cobbled streets or hitching cable cars up to rifugi (mountainside
chalet restaurants) perched on the slopes. Where to
stay: Book yourself into Rosa Alpina, located in the
village of San Cassiano. Enter to admire frescoed walls, local
antiques and wood-carved furnishings dotted throughout the hotel,
owned by the Pizzinini family for generations.

This favoured
American ski spot has plenty on offer for those looking for a
ski-free holiday. Take a husky-led ride up to Granite Hot Springs
to take a dip in natural baths with views over the Granite Creek
Falls, or rent a snowmobile to zip through the snow-covered
Yellowstone National Park and visit the Old Faithful geyser.
Where to stay: At the foot of the Tetons, Amangani is the perfect mountain
retreat. Kick back among elegant sandstone and redwood interiors or
take the free shuttle bus service into town.